Air bag stem



2 Sheets-Shet 1 gs 5 m f 2! till 2 Jam mm H H 9 a J INVENTOR. J'oH/v 6. CROWLEY [ll u Sept. 20, 1949. J. c. CROWLEY AIR BAG STEM Filed Jan. so, 1946 HTTORNEJS J. C. CROWLEY SeptZO, 1949.

AIR BAG STEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N. am. I :0

Filed Jan. 30, 1946 INVENTOR. JbHN C. CROWLEY HTToR/vExs Patented Sept. 20, 1949 f I 2,482,469 AIR sac. s'rEM John C; Crowley, Willoughby, Ohio, assign'or to i The Bill Manufacturing Company, Cleveland,-

Ohio, a corporation-of Ohio I l Application Janu ry 30, 1946, Serial N sirzsi 1 v This invention relates such as is used in the manufacture of tire casings.

In manufacturing pneumatic tire casings and .other similar rubber articles, air bags are posi-' tioned within the tire casings during the curing of the latter and then the air ba'gsare inflated with steam or other heated fluid to provide vulcanizing heat, all as well understood in the art.

These air bags are usually constructed'of rubber;

and are provided with metal valve stems vu1'- canized directly in the material of the bagsor vulcanized in a separate piece or block of rubber which, in turn, is vulcanized in the material of the air bag. The steam or other'fluid is intr.o-

ducted into the air bag through the'valve stem; Consequently the airbag stems are subjected to a high degree of heat'which tends to'break ordestroy the rubber to metal bond or' adhesion between the air bag material and the stem, with the result leaks frequently occur between thestem and the bag with the possible destructionofthe useful life of the airbag. 7 '1 The main object of the invention isto' provide a'stem construction which is so secured to an'airj bag as to increase the useful life of the air bag. Another object is to provide a sternfor an air bag which is so constructed and is'so'connecte d' to the bag as to greatlylessen the likelihood of leaks occurring between the air bag and the stem.

A further object is to provide a stem construe tion for an air bag whereby a tight seal-can be effected between the stem and bag, notwithstanding the deterioration of the rubber of the ba because of the heat to which it is subjected and the breaking of the rubber to metal bond between the bag and stem. I

A still further object is to provide a stem construction for an air bag whereby the seal between the stem and bag can be tightened from time to time during the use of the bag and from exteriorly thereof by means of a tool inserted through the;

to a stern for an air bag pneumatic 3 Claims. (01. 18-45) Referring to the accompanying drawings illus-' trating several'embodinients'cf the invention,

Fig. 1 is a topwplanvie'w of an airbag stem molded and vulcanized-in a separate mass or block 7 of rubber that is, "in turn, united to the material of the air bag by vulcanization,

Fig. 2 is a sectional: view-through the: block of rubber and'is' takensubstantially on line 22 of Fig; 1 looking. in the direction of the arrows. Y :1 I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantiallyon line 3-3 .of Fig. 1 lookingin the'direction of the;

arrows."

l Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 3 but illustrating a modified stem construction. Figs. 6 and 7-. are: sectional views similar to Figs; 2 to 5 inclusivebut illustrating a still different form'of'ste'm construction, and

Figs. 8 and 9 aresectional views similar to th previous sectional views but'illus'tratingv a; stillfurther and different form of stem construction.

The air bag itself isnotillustrated herein since it'is well knowninthe art. 1' The various forms ofstemsare shown asmounted in blocks of rub-' air bags ifv it is desired-to do so;

The stem shown in Figs; 1-to 3 inclusive com-' prises an outer stem part I'll which is vulcanized in.the rubber block or in vthei air bag material as will be well understood; The outer stem part I0 is provided adjacent its outer end with an enlarged portion- II that extends to a point exteriorly of the air bag and radially inwardly of the inner circumference of the .bag. The portion II adjacent its inner end is provided with an exterior annular; shoulder l2.- 1 The outer stem part H] has a bore: I3 extending therethrough with the outer end thereofthreaded as indicated at M to have connected to'the stem a :suitable fitting on a conduit extending froma' source of supply of steam or other heated fluid.-; The bore l3 adjacent -its inner end is threaded as indicated at l5 to enable an innerstern part later to be described to be connected to;the .outer stem part. A metal sleeve, l6 is operatively, associated with Y the outer stern part andhas its outer end flanged inwardly tooverlie and engage the shoulder l2 of. the outer stempart, while its inner end is flanged. radially outwardly as indicated at H for a purpose later to be explained.

. Th me. ign rent!-;and. h -sl are stem and I It will also be noted that any pressure fluid seeking to escape between the stem and the material must follow an elongated and tortuous path.

In Figs. 8 and 9 the outer stem part is identi-' cal with the outer stem part 35 of Figs. 6 and 7 and the description thereof need not be repeated. Also in Figs. 8 and 9 the inner stem part is identical with the inner stem part described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3 and, therefore, a description of the inner stem part need not be repeated. The inner stem part 20 of Figs. 8 and 9 is provided with a collar or member 24a similar to the collar or member 24 of Figs. 2 and 3. However, the collar 24a in place of having integrally formed therewith the flared or conical portion 25 has integrally formed therewith portions 42, Ma and 43 corresponding to the same numbered portions of Figs. 6 and 7 and functioning for the same purpose.

From the foregoing description of a number of difierent forms of stem constructions embodying the invention it will be seen that the objects enumerated at the beginning of this specification are fully attained.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An air bag stem comprising a rubber block adapted to be united with the material of the air bag, a first stem part mounted by said block and having an end located exteriorly of said block and another end located within said block, said first stem part bein provided intermediate its ends with an external shoulder and having a bore therethrough which is threaded adjacent the end that is located within said block, a sleeve having a flange contacting said shoulder and being of conical formation with its large end adjacent the end of the first stem part that is within the block, said sleeve and said first stem part being molded in said block with the material of the block filling the space between said sleeve and said first stem part, a second stem part provided with a, bore therethrough and having one end externally threaded and screwed into the bore threads of said first stem part, said second stem part having its other end located exteriorly of the block and provided with an external shoulder, 2. member intermediate said second stem part external shoulder and the exterior of said block and having a portion rotatable on said second stem part and spaced longitudinally on said second stem part from said block and a portion ex tending from said first portion and spaced radially outwardly of said second stem part and engagin said block.

2. An air bag stem comprising a rubber block adapted to be united with the material of the air bag, a first stem part mounted by said block and having an end located exteriorly of said block and another end located within said block, said first stem part being provided intermediate its ends with an external shoulder and having a bore therethrough which is threaded adjacent the end that is located within said block, a sleeve having a radially inwardly extending flange contacting said shoulder and being of conical formation with its large end adjacent the end of the first stem part that is within the block, said large end of said sleeve being provided with a radially outwardly extending flange, said sleeve and said first stem part being molded in said block with the material of the block filling the space between said sleeve and said first stem part, a second stem part provided with a bore therethrough and having one end externally threaded and screwed into the bore threads of said first stem part, said second stem part having its other end located ex teriorly of the block and provided with an external shoulder, a member intermediate said second stem part external shoulder and the exterior of said block and having a portion rotatable on said second stem part and spaced longitudinally on said second stem part from said block and a portion extending from said first portion and spaced radially outwardly of said second stem part and engaging said block and aligned with said radially outwardly extending flange of said sleeve in the longitudinal direction of said stem parts.

3. An air bag stem comprising a rubber block adapted to be united with the material of the air bag, a first stem part mounted by said block and having an end located exteriorly of said block and another end located within said block, said first stem part being provided intermediate its ends with an external shoulder and having a bore therethrough which is threaded adjacent the end that is located within said block, a sleeve having a flange contacting said shoulder and being of conical formation with its large end adjacent the end of the first stem part that is within the block, said sleeve and said 'first stem part.

being molded in said block with the material of the blocl: filling the space between said sleeve and said first stem part, a second stem part provided with a bore therethrough and having one end exteriorly threaded and screwed into the bore threads of said first stem part, said second stem part having its other end located exteriorly of the block and provided with an external shoulder, a member intermediate said second stem part external shoulder and the exterior of said block and having a portion rotatable on said second stem part and spaced longitudinally on said second stem part from said block and a portion extending from said first portion and spaced radially outwardly of said second stem part and engaging said block and. provided with an end edge extending parallel to said stem parts and of diminishing thickness toward said first stem part to provide a conical surface on said edge, said block being provided with a complementary groove receiving said conical edge of said member portion when said stem parts are interconnected and mounted in said block, wherefore the material of the block is clamped between the conical outer surface of said edge of said member portion and said sleeve and is pressed by said second portion of said member and its edge into tight mechanical contact with the exterior of the second stem part.

JOHN C. CROWLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

